Perhaps you’ve been tuning out the furious rumors about Giannis Antetokounmpo and the supposed high interest from the Miami Heat and Boston Celtics in his services next year. And if you’re a Milwaukee Bucks fan, that might be in your best interest, both to avoid the stress of confronting a franchise-altering transaction and avoid the various iterations and half-truths before you hear the final news.
But, well, it’s out there. The Bucks have said they expect clarity in the Giannis situation before the June 23 draft, and now that we’re one day away, it seems as though everything is on the table.
Let’s take one last look at mock drafts, both for the No. 10 pick (where the Bucks are scheduled to make a selection) but also No. 13 (where Miami is scheduled to pick) and No. 27 (where Boston is scheduled).
It’s not because the Bucks will necessarily make the same choices as the Heat or Celtics, but because those are the players likely available in those windows.
Karim López, 6-8, New Zealand Breakers (native of Mexico)
From Jordan Mendoza of USA TODAY: “This pick will say a lot about where Milwaukee stands with Giannis Antetokounmpo. With the threat of him leaving, Milwaukee gets some backup in another international player. López might not be as known the rest of the prospects, but he has game takeover talent, able to drop buckets and command the boards. While this might come off as a surprise, it’s the right move for the Bucks.”
Nate Ament, 6-10, forward, Tennessee
From Kevin O’Connor of Yahoo! Sports: “Giannis Antetokounmpo remains a Buck, as the saga keeps dragging on with just one day until the draft. Depending on what Milwaukee receives, the front office could look to move up from this choice. But if they stay put, Ament is considered a likely target to start building the post-Giannis foundation. Players who can handle, shoot off the dribble, and stand at 6-foot-10 don’t grow on trees. This physical foundation kept Ament in lottery consideration even after a dreadful start to his freshman season when he struggled to score efficiently and make an impact defensively. But over the second half of the year for Tennessee, he flipped a switch and shots began to fall. He averaged 23.8 points over a six-game stretch in January and February that reminded everyone why he was a top recruit in the country. Then he dealt with an ankle injury that ruined his momentum entering March and he severely struggled during the tournament.”
From Cameron Salerno of CBS Sports: “The Bucks own this pick already and use it to draft Ament, who is one of the biggest boom-or-bust prospects in the class. Ament showed signs of improvement throughout his freshman season at Tennessee but there are question marks about his efficiency after shooting less than 40% from the field last season.”
From J. Kyle Mann of The Ringer: “The Bucks remind me of Everett, Pete, and Delmar, pinned in a burning barn as the bill comes due on all of their … we’ll call it ‘recent activity’: They’re in a tight spot. Cast blame however you’d like, but the fact of the matter is that the Giannis era was not effectively extended, and barring a huge haul in a trade involving the two-time MVP, there’s not a ton of draft capital lying around to reinvigorate this franchise. With this pick, the Bucks could focus on taking a high-quality role player who would work with whatever young talent comes their way in an Antetokounmpo trade. But Ament is one of the few real upside plays left on the board, and Milwaukee seems motivated to make the most of the opportunity. I don’t like rolling the dice on Ament’s particular challenges this high – he’s no. 20 on my board – but even if he doesn’t tap into his star potential, there’s a chance he could roll those flashes of self-creation into a supplemental role.”
Mikel Brown Jr., 6-5, guard, Louisville
From Zach Harper in the “chaos edition” of The Athletic’s draft: “This is a big win for the Bucks, with or without Giannis on the team. Brown is kind of a sneaky prospect in this draft. He could go a lot higher than this, and teams seem to be very impressed with his workouts and game. His shooting needs to improve, and some of that is just shot selection. Brown needs better pace to his game, but he is absolutely a guy who could make an All-Star team or two someday.”
Brayden Burries, 6-4, guard, Arizona
From Jeremy Woo of ESPN: “Milwaukee appears headed toward a retool and continues to signal around the league that it plans to wind up with multiple first-round selections on draft night. Burries appears to have a narrow range between 8 and 11, with Dallas frequently mentioned and Golden State viewed as his backstop. He would have a best-available case here for the Bucks, giving them another ball handler and interchangeable perimeter option and a player who can immediately plug into their backcourt. The Bucks have quietly worked out or visited with nearly every player in this range of the draft. Rival teams view it as no coincidence that Milwaukee’s extra diligence is taking place as Antetokounmpo talks swirl in the background.”
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: With Giannis rumors hot, here’s a look at Bucks in NBA mock drafts
Reporting by JR Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel / Milwaukee Journal Sentinel
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By JR Radcliffe, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel | USA TODAY Network
